RIZAL IS ONE OF THE LEANING AND IMPORTANT FIGURES IN OUR PHILIPPINE

HISTORY. HE WAS INDEED RECOGNIZING AS OUR NATIONAL HERO, A RENOWNED

PROPAGANDIST, AND A SYMBOLISM OF FILIPINO NATIONALISM. HE WAS A KEY
MEMBER OF THE FILIPINO PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT WHICH IS COMPOSED BY
INTELLECT FILIPINOS THAT ADVOCATES POLITICAL REFORMS OF THE PHILIPPINE
COLONY UNDER THE SPANISH RULE. HE WROTE TWO IMPORTANT NOVELS,
THE NOLI ME TANGERE AND EL FILIBUSTERISMO TO OPEN THE EYES OF THE
FILIPINO PEOPLE TO THE GRIM TRUTH OF SPANISH TYRANNY. DUE TO HIS
WRITINGS AND THE PROPAGANDA MOVEMENT, HE WAS EXECUTED BY THE
SPANISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE CONSPIRING OF REBELLION MOTIVATED IN HIS
WRITINGS. HIS DEATH SPARKS THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION AGAINST SPAIN AND
THE QUEST OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE FOR SELF DETERMINATION.
RIZAL’S EDUCATIONAL IDEALS
• RIZAL’S CONCEPT OF THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION IS CLEARLY ENUNCIATED IN
HIS WORK ENTITLED INSTRUCTION WHEREIN HE SOUGHT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
SCHOOLS AND IN THE METHODS OF TEACHING.
• HE MAINTAINED THAT THE BACKWARDNESS OF HIS COUNTRY DURING THE SPANISH
ERA WAS NOT DUE TO THE FILIPINOS’ INDIFFERENCE, APATHY OR INDOLENCE AS
CLAIMED BY THE RULERS, BUT TO THE NEGLECT OF THE SPANISH AUTHORITIES IN
THE ISLANDS.
• FOR RIZAL, THE MISSION OF EDUCATION IS TO ELEVATE THE COUNTRY TO THE
HIGHEST SEAT OF GLORY AND TO DEVELOP THE PEOPLE’S MENTALITY.
• SINCE EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF SOCIETY AND A PREREQUISITE FOR
SOCIAL PROGRESS, RIZAL CLAIMED THAT ONLY THROUGH EDUCATION COULD THE
COUNTRY BE SAVED FROM DOMINATION.

Rizal’s ideas on education were echoed and restated by
the freedom fighters of the turn of the (20th) century,
and the leaders of independence movements after the
Second World War when many colonies of the western
powers clamored and fought for independence and
freedom for their people.
“kabataan ang pagasa ng
bayan!”
EDUCATION FOR YOUTH.
Rizal’s ideas on education was relevant to the
Philippines then and now, as it is relevant in any other
country where people desire to improve the quality of
their lives. It will be to their benefit if Filipinos and
everyone else, particularly those who are still young, to
listen and heed Rizal’s advice on education: “:read,
read, and learn”. Education will elevate them to new
heights and become not only active, but also recognized
partners, in the art of government and every community
activity.
IN BRIEF, RIZALS IDEA OR CONCEPT OF EDUCATION IS DETERMINED BY THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

1. THE CURRICULUM OF A MODERN LIBERAL EDUCATION SHOULD INCLUDE EITHER: RELIGION, HYGIENE,

MATHEMATICS, THE PHYSICAL, NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES, LITERATURE (SPANISH, RHETORIC AND POETRY),

LANGUAGES (SPANISH, ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, CHINESE AND TAGALOG), PHYSICAL CULTURE, AND THE ARTS.

2. THERE SHOULD BE A WEEKLY ACCOUNTING BY TEACHERS OF STUDENT PROGRESS AND CONDUCT, THE WELL-

BEHAVED ONES TO BE REWARDED WITH A POSTING OF THEIR NAMES, AND PARENTS SHOULD BE INFORMED MONTHLY

OF THE PROGRESS, CONDUCT, AND HEALTH OF THEIR CHILDREN.

3. THE SCHOOL SHOULD INSIST ON ACCURACY AND PUNCTUALITY.

4. TEACHERS WARE TO BE EMPLOYED ON PASSING AN ADMISSION EXAMINATION ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS IF THERE

ARE SEVERAL APPLICANTS.

5. THERE IS TO BE NO RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN THE ADMISSION OF STUDENTS.

6. GYMNASTICS AND SWIMMING ARE OBLIGATORY.
7. CLASSES WOULD BE SIX HOURS A DAY INCLUDING A TOTAL OF TWO HOURS OF PHYSICAL CULTURE
AND THE ARTS.
8. HUMAN RELATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND PUPILS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED. THE TEACHER
SHOULD WORK WITH THE STUDENTS AND BE THEIR LEADER AND CO-WORKERS AS WELL AS THEIR
MENTOR.
9. INSTRUCTION SHOULD BE PRACTICAL AND SHOULD STIMULATE THINKING RATHER THAN BE A
PARROT LIKE REPRODUCTION OF BOOK LEARNING. STUDENTS SHOULD LEARN BY PARTICIPATION IN A
NATURAL SITUATION. FIELD WORK HAS ITS PLACE IN EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION.
10. EDUCATION SHOULD RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL AID TO MAKE INSTRUCTION EFFECTIVE. IT IS NOT
SUFFICIENT THAT THERE ARE STUDENTS TO BE TAUGHT. THERE MUST BE PROPER ACCOMMODATION
AND EQUIPMENT CONDUCIVE TO LEARNING.
11. THE TEACHER SHOULD HAVE PRESTIGE, REPUTATION, MORAL STRENGTH AND SOME FREEDOM OF
ACTION.
 RIZAL POLITICAL REFORMS
IN RIZAL’S POLITICAL VIEW, A CONQUERED COUNTRY LIKE THE PHILIPPINES SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF
BUT RATHER SHOULD BE DEVELOPED, CIVILIZED, EDUCATED AND TRAINED IN THE SCIENCE OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

HE BITTERLY ASSAILED AND CRITICIZED IN PUBLICATIONS THE APPARENT BACKWARDNESS OF THE SPANISH RULER’S
METHOD OF GOVERNING THE COUNTRY WHICH RESULTED IN:

1. THE BONDAGE AND SLAVERY OF THE CONQUERED ;

2. THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT’S REQUIREMENT OF FORCED LABOR AND FORCE MILITARY SERVICE UPON THE N
NATIVES;

3. THE ABUSE OF POWER BY MEANS OF EXPLOITATION;

4. THE GOVERNMENT RULING THAT ANY COMPLAINT AGAINST THE AUTHORITIES WAS CRIMINAL; AND

5. MAKING THE PEOPLE IGNORANT, DESTITUTE AND FANATIC, THUS DISCOURAGING THE FORMATION OF A NATIONAL
SENTIMENT.
• RIZAL BELIEVED THAT THE PRIMARY FUNCTION OF GOVERNMENTS IS THE PROMOTION OF THE
WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE. IN HIS SECOND NOVEL, EL FILIBUSTERISMO, HE WROTE THAT
GOVERNMENTS ARE ESTABLISHED FOR THE WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE.

• IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THIS PURPOSE, GOVERNMENTS HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF THE
PEOPLE. RIZAL BELIEVED THAT SOCIAL PROGRESS WAS POSSIBLE IF THERE WAS
COOPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE.

• A STUPID GOVERNMENT IS AN ANOMALY AMONG RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE, JUST AS A CORRUPT PEOPLE

CANNOT EXIST UNDER RULES AND WISE LAWS. LIKE PEOPLE, LIKE GOVERNMENT. A GOVERNMENT
THAT NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE MUST CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPEN AND FREE DIALOGUE
WITH THE PEOPLE.
1 NOVEL : NOLI ME TANGERE
ST

• TO RAISE POLITICAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN RELATION TO CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE PHILIPPINES.

• DISSEMINATE INFORMATION ABOUT THEIR COUNTRY THROUGH JOURNALISM AND PUBLIC DEBATE
2 NOVEL
ND

• SEQUEL TO NOLI ME TANGERE

• TO DRAW ATTENTION TO CALAMITOUS STATE OF AFFAIRS IN THE COUNTRY.
RIZAL’S SOCIO- ECONOMIC REFORMS

• ENLIGHTENMENT THROUGH EDUCATION WAS NOT ENOUGH TO IMPROVE THE COUNTRY’S RIGHT.
• 19TH CENTURY PHILIPPINES WAS EXPERIENCING THE KINDLING EFFECT OF ECONOMIC WEAKENING AND
MATERIAL PROPERTY.
WHAT WOULD RIZAL DO IF HE WERE ALIVE TODAY ?

IF RIZAL WERE ALIVE TODAY HE WOULD BE ARRESTED AGAIN. HE WOULD CRITICIZE THE GOVERNMENT AND
SOCIETY AND WILL BE IMPRISONED FOR CAUSING ACTIVISM, STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS, AND
DESTABILIZATION IN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SECTORS OF SOCIETY.

RIZAL WAS TRUTHFUL, HONEST, A GENTLEMAN AND WAS WILLING TO DIE FOR THE GOOD OF THE COUNTRY. HE
WAS ADMIRED FOR THE VIRTUES HE HAS SET FOR SERVICE AND LOVE OF COUNTRY AND THE PEOPLE.
TODAY, RIZAL WOULD STAND IN THE MIDST OF THE CONFUSION BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE ALLEGATIONS OF
ELECTORAL FRAUDS AND CHEATING AND GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. MAY BE THIS TIME AROUND, FILIPINOS AND
NOT SPANISH SOLDIERS WOULD SHOOT HIM.

RIZAL WAS FAMOUS FOR CRITICIZING AND EXPOSING THE ABUSES OF SPANISH FRIARS AND OFFICIALS. IF HE
WERE ALIVE TODAY HE WOULD QUESTION THE WAY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ARE SPENDING THE MONEY OF
THE PEOPLE AND WOULD BE CHECKING WHETHER THESE WERE USED TO BUILD ROADS AND BRIDGES, HOUSES,
AN D SCHOOLS FOR THE POOR; HE WOULD BE MORE VIGILANT ON THE MALADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE FOR
THE PEOPLE, HE WOULD HAVE CRITICIZE THE PREVAILING ABUSIVE PRACTICES IN THE GOVERNMENT. RIZAL
WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED ANY ATTEMPT OF BETRAYAL OF ONE’S COUNTRY; HE WOULD CRITICIZE THE DRUG
LORDS AND GAMBLING LORDS WHO RESEMBLE TAX COLLECTORS DURING HIS TIME.

IN SHORT RIZAL’S MORAL, POLITICAL, SPIRITUAL AND ECONOMIC LEGACIES WOULD STILL APPLY TODAY
REFERENCES:
• HTTP://WWW.TAUKAPPAPHI.COM/ARTICLES/THE-UNIVERSALITY-OF-RIZALS-IDEAS-AND-ITS-RELEVANCE-TO-
FILIPINOS-TODAY/?FBCLID=IWAR0TGTZ6LQUIF6U15GXF70XOQ4EP-C9N5YSFIWOE55LJTELA4FUQENNIQGA
• HTTP://WWW.JOSERIZAL.PH/PH01.HTML?FBCLID=IWAR10PXPQNUTM3ECZDVXXSAONGVEZ0HJ4YYCRU4V7Q
9XB2XYOFMACPIRH-NG
• HTTP://WWW.OPINYON.COM.PH/INDEX.PHP/FEATURES/HEALTH/772-IS-RIZAL-STILL-RELEVANT-TO-OUR-
TIME?FBCLID=IWAR2MZ5NNLO-QY1SVBLTSPFNEZNFSYHWVK6O4MO5YXTHMXD-XKNIZL-SNJTW
• HTTPS://STUDYMOOSE.COM/HOW-VALID-ARE-RIZALS-POLITICAL-EDUCATIONAL-AND-SOCIO-ECONOMIC-
REFORMS-TODAY-ESSAY?FBCLID=IWAR1O2-7IV196UYML8OWP_EI6H40J8BPD-GLBNTN6GINSDJVHLIVOLE-
5A1M